How to Become a Casino Dealer - The Expert’s Guide
Find out everything you need to know on becoming a casino dealer in Canada with our in-depth guide. Get up to speed on the pros and cons, the essential skills and what training you’ll need to successfully make it as a dealer in a land-based casino in 2025.
What you need to become a dealer
The best way to become a casino dealer is to get your dealer's license, learn the tricks of the trade, and practice dealing. This is a hands-on role that requires both technical ability and strong people skills.
Get your license
Casino dealers, by law, have to be licensed in order to work. To apply, you'll need a photo ID as well as proof of your residential status. Some casinos may sponsor your application, but having your license ahead of time can help you start work immediately.
Get trained
Most dealers will receive on-the-job training, but prior knowledge and experience can give you an edge. Consider enrolling in a casino dealer school or attending workshops that focus on games like blackjack, poker, and roulette. These programs often cover rules, dealing techniques, and chip handling, helping you walk into interviews with confidence.
Casinos will be looking for flawless dealing when they put your skills to the test, so it pays to practice before you put yourself forward for a role. Most interviews will include a math test and a live audition where you'll be expected to demonstrate quick calculations and precise dealing under pressure.
Get the skills
Casinos look for more than just dealing ability. You’ll also need a well-rounded skill set:
Strong math skills: You'll need to calculate bets and payouts quickly and accurately.
Clear communication: Explaining rules, announcing bets, and interacting with players all require confidence and clarity.
Calm attitude: Dealing with the fast-paced environment of the betting floor requires a calm, professional and composed attitude.
Great hand-eye coordination: Dealers need to be able to pick up stacks of chips, deal cards quickly, and keep the flow of the game on track in a smooth and cohesive way.
Professional and friendly personality: Casino dealers are there to take care of all players, from the regulars, to the pros and the newbies – everyone needs to feel welcomed and part of the game.
Colour vision: Dealers need to be able to differentiate colours clearly. Those with colour blindness might struggle in this aspect
Get the look
Dealers represent the casino they work for, so looking your best, wearing the required uniform and showing up on time, ready to hit the casino floor are all things that show your professionalism and reliability.
The legal requirements
To be able to work as a casino dealer legally, you will need a dealer’s licence from the State Gaming Board. Dealers are responsible for handling hundreds of transactions at their tables, so they need to be trustworthy with money. Every dealer will undergo a standard criminal records background check.
The types of casino dealers
Dealers run the tables in the casino pit. Without them, there'd be no poker, roulette, craps or blackjack to play. However, the different games require different dealers, each with their own unique responsibilities.
These are some of the most common ones you’ll come across:
Croupier: This is the name commonly given to the dealer who works the roulette table. It's the croupier's responsibility to spin the wheel, drop the ball (in the opposite direction), and issue chips of different colours to each player. The croupier also announces the result, collects losing bets, and pays out winning players.
Card game dealer: If you work a card table at a casino, you're responsible for keeping the action moving in games like poker, baccarat, and blackjack. It's the dealer's job to shuffle and deal the cards correctly according to the game's rules. Card table dealers also prompt each player to act when it's their turn.
Craps dealers: Craps tables are unique in a casino as they typically have more than one dealer overseeing the action. You'll have the Boxman overseeing the betting action, the Stickman, typically holding a long hook to move the dice to the player, and there are usually two base dealers who collect bets and payout winnings.
Live dealer: Live online casinos employ dealers to work out of a studio where the action is streamed live, with players able to talk via chat while the dealer narrates the action and calls out winners.
The casino dealer’s salary
The average dealer salary in Canada is around $45,000 to $50,000, or $22 to $24 an hour. These are, of course, industry averages, and each casino can pay more or less depending on the role or experience, so check with your chosen casino to see what salaries it’s offering.
Casino dealers don’t rely on wages alone. Many can benefit from the generous tips of their players. Here’s an example of what that could look like:
| Casino environment | Typical tip rate | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| General tip income | $8 - $15 an hour | Depending on the location and game volume. Top-tier dealers working with higher stakes can earn even more |
| Table games | $30 - $40 an hour | Table games like blackjack or poker, the tipping protocol is often around $1 per winning hand |
| Cash game pots | 1-5% (over $100) | Tipping 1–5% of a large pot (over $100) is a known practice, most use flat tips (like $1 per winning hand) rather than percentage-based tipping |
| Tournaments | 2-5% | Dealer tips are often pooled or withheld via a built-in staff fee, typically between 2–5% of the prize pool, with 3% being a common standard |
Pros and cons of being a casino dealer
Before pursuing a career in card dealing, it's important to fully understand the role. Being a dealer carries lots of responsibility—they manage the flow of the table, handle bets, announce results and ensure a fair game is being played.
On top of these technical duties, they must also be friendly, calm, professional and approachable.
Like any job, working as a dealer in a casino has plenty of benefits and drawbacks. Here are just a few of the key pros and cons you should seriously consider if you want to step into the role of a casino dealer:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Flexible shift patterns | ❌ Potential for unsociable hours (weekends, nights & holidays) |
| ✅ Tips on top of your base pay | ❌ Reliance on tips |
| ✅ Meeting new people | ❌ Dealing with difficult players |
| ✅ Job stability | ❌ Repetitive tasks |
| ✅ Paid vacation and health benefits | ❌ Strict appearance policies |
| ✅ Free or subsidized meals | ❌ Physical fatigue from standing |
| ✅Skill development and career progression |
How to get started as a dealer
While Canada has hundreds of online casinos to choose from, most provinces only have a handful of land-based venues. This means jobs on the casino floor, especially at table games, can be competitive.
So, how can you stand out? Here are four smart ways to boost your chances of landing your dream job as a casino dealer:
1. Find a mentor
Learning from a seasoned casino dealer is a great way to progress your skills. They can help you master the technical skills and give you insider know-how on what casinos are looking for. Time and practice are key, so stay committed and find a learning style that suits you.
2. Attend a casino school
Casino schools are specifically designed to give you the skills and knowledge you need in every aspect of a casino dealer. You'll learn the full scope of popular card games, alongside math tuition, and casino expectations and etiquette. Two top dealer schools in Canada would be the Canadian Casino Gaming College (Ontario) and the Winning Touch Casino School (Ontario / Niagara Falls Casino). The Hard Rock / Rideau Carleton Dealer School (Ottawa) also provides a training program, with most graduates being hired at the casino.
3. Gain on-the-job dealer training
Some casinos offer paid on-the-job training as part of their onboarding package for new dealers. These programs teach you the procedures, game rules and table etiquette on the casino floor you'd be working on, making it easier to get up to speed and level up.
Unfortunately, not all casino-based jobs are advertised. Try approaching local casinos in your area directly to ask about training opportunities or upcoming roles. With over 100 casinos in Canada—and even more just across the US border—it pays to be proactive.
4. Practice dealing
Casinos will be looking for flawless dealing when they put your skills to the test. Here are some good ways to gain hands-on dealer experience:
Watch YouTube tutorials: There are many free, easy-to-follow dealer training videos covering everything from chip handling to perfect shuffling.
Read dealer guidebooks: If reading's more your thing, you'll find numerous resources from the "For Dummies" guidebooks to pro manuals like The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook.
Practice with friends: Set up casual games with your friends to test out your skills as a dealer. Invite people who know the rules and etiquette so you can practice under real conditions with players who know exactly what to expect.
